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memories 



Lieut. B. F. Hasson 



1861-18f 




Class 

Book 

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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



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ESCAPE 



FROM THE 



CONFEDERACY 



OvJvRPOWKRING THE GUARDS — MlDNlGilT LEAP FrOM 

A Moving Train — Through Swamps 

AND Forest — Blood Hounds — 

Thrilling Events. 



B. F. HASSOiN, 
Late Lieut. Ringgold Battalion (226. Pa. Vol. Cav.) 



Entered aceording to Act of Congreis. 



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To the comrades of the Ringgold Cavalry and the 

relatives and friends of the boys who suffered 

and died at Richmond and Anderson- 

ville, this booklet is dedicated. 



'Across the years, full rounded to many score, 

Since advancing peace, with her olive wand, 
Returns the sunshine to our desolate land. 

Come thronging hack memories of the war. 
Again the drum's heat and the cannon's roar, 

And patriot Hres by every breeze are fanned, 
And pulses quicken with a purpose g>rand. 

As manhood's forces swell to larger store. 
Again the camp^ the Held, the march, the strife, 

The joy of victory, the bitter pain 
Of wounds or sore defeat; the anguish rife, 

And tears that fall for the unnumbered slain. 
And homes, where darkened is the light of life, 

All these the echoing bugle brings again." 



INTRODUCTORY. 



I have been so often urged by old army comrades, 
as well as other friends, to publish the facts contained in 
the following pages in a convenient shape for preserva- 
tion, that I have concluded to comply with their wishes, 
and now present them in this form. Many of the less 
important details have been omitted, as well with a view 
of preventing the story from becoming tiresome as of 
getting it within the limits of space it was intended it 
should occupy. While the experience was attended 
with trials and suffering, I wish to assure the reader 
that it was nothing more than was endured by hundreds 
of other boys who saw service in the War of the Great 
Rebellion. I would not go through it again for all the 
world, and yet I would not like to lose the satisfaction I 
enjoy in the knowledge of my success in overcoming so 
many seemingly insurmountable difficulties. It is a plain 
narration of facts, and is written without any effort to 
overdraw or embellish. I hand it over to the friends 
and comrades who have been urging me to publish it, in 
the hope that it will help to fill up an idle moment. 

B. F. Hasson. 



War Memories 



''Flank out Frank, and go with us to-morrow." 
We were squatted on the sandy ground— vermin- 
ladened sand— inside the prison stockade on Belle Island, 
discussing the probable destination of the prisoners 
then being daily removed from that place. Joseph Mor- 
ton and Peter Deems of my own regiment and myself 
were of the party and the above remark was made by 
Morton and addressed to me. It was early in the month 
of March, 1864, and just after that famous raid to the 
vicinity oi Richmond by Gen. Kilpatrick and Col. Ulrich 
Dahlgren. The daring troopers had even penetrated the 
defences of the city and thoroughly alarmed the Rebel 
authorities. Immediately steps were taken to remove 
the prisoners from Richmond to Andersonville, Ga., and 
other remote points in the South out of the reach of res- 
cue by Federal raiders. 

The prisoners on the Island were divided off into 
hundreds. The first hundred was composed of those 
first put into the stockade ; and then, as new or fresh 
prisoners arrived the second and other hundreds were 
added. One member of each hundred was chosen to see 
to the welfare of the men in securing rations, etc. The 
hundreds were subdivided into messes of twenty-five 
each, and a man was selected from among them whose 



lo WAR MBMORIBS 

duty it was to cut up the loaves of corn-bread into 
twenty-five equal sized pieces, and see that they were 
impartially issued to the men. This was done by placing 
a man with his back to the pieces of bread, and the ser- 
geant pointing to one piece at a time and asking, ''Whose 
is this?'' The answer would be, ''That goes to No. i,'' 
and so on through the list of twenty-five. The men were 
called by number instead of name. This was made neces- 
sary by reason of .frequent changes on account of deaths. 

This rather full explanation is given here because it 
answers questions often asked me. This stockade, or 
inclosure, wuthin which prisoners were confined, com- 
prised several acres on the lower end Oif the Island, 
around which piles were driven, close together, leaving 
perhaps four to six feet projecting above ground. A 
little below the top of these logs or piles a platform was 
erected, and on this platform the guards marched and 
countermarched. It is not my intention to enter into a 
description of the condition of the prison camps. Their 
histories have been written and all are doubtless more or 
less familiar with them. 

At this time there were about 9500 (ninety-five 
hundreds) in the stockade. Up to and including the six- 
teenth hundred had already been taken away. Morton 
and Deems were in the eighteenth hundred, and I was in 
the twenty-second hundred. It was expected that the 
next day more would be taken, and fearful that my 
squad would not be reached I was asked by Morton to 
"flank out" and go along. It was a violation of the 
rules to go from one squad to another, but on account 



H'AR MEMORIES ii 

of the many deaths occurring every night it could be 
managed in an emergency Hke this. 

Having been on the Island for six months I was 
glad to make a change of residence. A change of any 
kind was desirable even if it was not an improvement. 
To walk around the stockade another day, over the same 
well-beaten path, looking into the same pale, haggard 
faces, listening to the groans of the dying and witness- 
ing the miserable condition of the living, was no longer 
tolerable, so that, "rather than suffer the ills we had 
we were willing to flee to others we knew not of." 

I did flank out that night and the next morning 
quietly slipped into the eighteenth hundred with Morton 
and Deems, and marched with them out of the inclosure 
and over the bridge to the city of Richmond. We were 
put into the building called "The Pemberton" and re- 
mained there until the following morning, when we 
crowded into freight cars, forty to sixty in a car, and 
started southward. 

While crossing the bridge on our way from the Is- 
land to the city I was marching by the side of a prisoner 
whom I had not met before. He was yet in apparently 
vigorous condition — evidently not having been a prisoner 
very long. He asked me in a suppressed tone if I in- 
tended to try to escape in case we were taken further 
south. I replied that I did, and we there and then en- 
tered into a contract to go together. He was enthusi- 
astic about the matter and gave me his hand as a pledge 
of his sincerity. 

Studying means of escape, and efforts to rid them- 



12 



WAR MBMORIBS 



selves of the tOTmenting vermin, were the chief occupa- 
tions of prisoners of war while awake. In their fitful 
and uneasy slumbers they were dreaming that they were 
at home sitting at the most abundantly ^supplied tables 
and enjoying all the comforts which the wora home 
implies. 

Long continued exposure and lack of food had en- 
gendered diseases and reduced the poor creatures to the 
most pitiable condition. Of course some were worse off 
than others, but all looked miserable enough. 

After passing through Petersburg we were satis- 
fied that a longer term of imprisonment awaited us, for, 
had it been the purpose to exchange us, we should have 
stopped at Petersburg and from there been taken to 
City Point. When the fact was made known there 
were loud murmurings. The bronzed and starved faces 
were pictures of the most abject wretchedness and 
despair. Reaching Gaston, North Carolina, we were 
transferred to another train, taking the Gaston and 
Raleigh road from that point. 

Morton was very sick when we started from Rich- 
mond, and the jolting received in the cars had tended to 
increase his trouble. I endeavored to keep as close to 
him as possible on the way, so as to render him all the 
assistance I could. When changing cars at Gaston he 
was quite feeble, and required assistance to get from 
one train to the other. 

"Do you intend to escape, Lieutenant?" was whis- 
pered in my ear as we were getting off the train. On 
looking around I found Peter Deems at my elbow. 



WAR MEMORIES 13 

"To-night," I as quietly replied. 

"All right, I'm with you," said he. Those who 
will remember Mr. Deems, (and doubtless many of his 
old friends in Pike Run township, and all his surviving 
comrades in Co. F will) must be amused, as I was, at 
such a proposition coming from him. Although he was 
considerably reduced in flesh by his long confinement, he 
was yet large and clumsy, and to jump from a running 
train would, to my mind, have resulted disastrously. 
The whistle of the locomotive notified us that all was 
ready, and it was not long until we were speeding south- 
ward. On looking around for Deems I found he had in 
some way failed to get into that car. I never saw him 
after. His name, together with poor Morton's, appeared 
in a list of prisoners who answered the last great roll 
call at Andersonville, Georgia. Night came on as we 
approached Franklinton station, Franklin County, North 
Carolina. Here the train stopped for some time for the 
purpose of taking on wood and water, and while doing 
this the guards in the car were relieved. That is, those 
stationed there during the day were taken away and 
other men put in their places. I kept careful watch of 
everything going on and all the while keeping in view my 
purpose to get out of that car at the very earliest op- 
portunity. While placing the guards the officer in charge 
renewed the instructions for the night. They were em- 
phatically ordered not to allow a prisoner to get near the 
door. As is well known, the doors on a freight car slide 
along the side of the car. The door on one side of our 
car was securely fastened, while the one on the other 



14 WAR MBMORIBS 

side was partly open — perhaps two feet — not more than 
enough for a man going- out in a hurry to dear the sides. 
There were two guards in the car, one on each side of 
this partly open door. Armed Confederate soldiers were 
scattered all along the train — some on top of the cars. 
The rear car, an ordinary passenger coach, was occupied 
exclusively by them. They were held in readiness to 
answer a call from any part of the train in case of 
trouble. A lantern was hung up to the ceiling near the 
middle of the car. 

It was a little after dark when the bell announced 
the time for starting. About the time the train was 
pulling out I asked the man who had agreed with me 
when we were crossing the bridge to make an effort to 
escape, what he thought a'bout it. I found he had 
changed his mind. The boisterous and violent manner 
in which the officer had instructed the guard to shoot any 
man who came near the door, the sound of guns fired 
off for the purpose, no doubt, of overawing the pris- 
oners, and the general gloom which night and darkness 
threw around the scene, had a depressing effect upon 
him. He said we would surely be killed. This was 
sufficient to convince me that he could not be relied 
upon and I bade him good-night and went in search of 
others who might be induced to consider the matter 
favorably. 

Two stalwart men with guns in their hands, stood 
between us and liberty, and a sufficient force to render 
their defeat absolutely certain must be brought to bear. 
A failure to overpower them at the first attack would 



WAR MEMORIES 15 

be sure to lead to the instant death of those engaged, 
if not others. The car was unspeakably filthy, and 
the thoughts of remaining in it would unstring the 
strongest nerves. 

While leaning against the end o,f the car and 
peering through the dim light made by the candle in the 
lantern, and carefully scanning the scene before me, I 
discovered four young soldiers sitting on the floor 
near the other end, who seemed to be absorbed in the 
discussion of some important proposition. I felt so 
confident I knew what they were talking about that I 
made my way to them by carefully stepping over the 
forms of the prisoners as they lay huddled together on 
the floor, and getting down among them entered into 
conversation with them. It is sufficient to say we soon 
had our plans laid and a perfect understanding as to 
carrying them out. 

There were now five of us. It was arranged that 
four should attack the guards. In other words, two of 
us to each guard, while the fifth should make his way 
to the lantern which hung suspended to the ceiling of 
the car, as before mentioned, and at the time offensive 
operations were to begin he was to extinguish the light. 
The guards were fully armed — guns in their hands and 
revolvers in their belts — while we were without 
weapons of any kind, and all more or less weakened by 
confinement, exposure and lack of sufficient food. We 
fully understood the part each was to play in the drama, 
or tragedy — whichever it might prove to be. 

Before proceeding further I had to go back to the 



i6 WAR MBMORIBS 

other end of the car and take leave of Morton. To see 
him lying in the corner of the car suffering the tortures 
of a lingering starvation was a sad sight indeed, and 
served to admonish me that his condition would soon be 
mine if I remained with him. Our separation was very 
sad and affecting. 

The first difficulty to overcome was to get near the 
guards without exciting suspicion. I had a finger ring 
made of bone which had been given to me by a friend 
on the Island. It was thought by careful manoeuvering 
I might be able to trade it to the guard for some 
crackers, which I noticed he carried in his haversack. 
Accordingly, I secured a position as close to him as I 
dared, and attracted his attention. I approached him 
by edging my way along, my right shoulder against the 
side of the car. He ordered me back, and several times 
threatened me. It was some time before I could get him 
to listen to me, but I handled him carefully, and after 
some parleying handed him the ring and told him he 
or some of his friends might value it as a memento, 
coming from a^ Yankee soldier. I pleaded for a few 
crackers and he eventually gave me two and a part of 
a third. By this time I had got sufficiently close to the 
door to be able to get an occasional glance outside as 
the train rumbled along and tossed me from side to side. 
I remember crossing a bridge, which I afterwards 
learned spanned Cedar Creek, a tributary of the Tar 
River. This bridge was probably eight miles or more 
from Franklinton station. 

My companions had all gained their positions. The 



WAR MEMORIES 17 

one who was to assist me was standing behind the 
shoulder of the guard, far enough away to avoid 
attracting attention and yet close enough to reach him. 
Two others had cautiously taken positions behind the 
other guard. 

The crackers were eagerly, ravenously devoured. 
We had consumed the rations issued ' to us early that 
morning, long before the middle of the day. Six 
months as a prisoner of war with a continual craving 
for food and with but one short ration that morning 
made this deal with the guard one of great importance. 
Now all were ready. With suppressed breath, swelling 
hearts and quickening pulses we anxiously awaited the 
momentous moment. 

All at once, as if everything were working in 
concert with us. the cars slackened their speed. We 
were evidently on an ascending grade. On visiting the 
point since the war I found this to be true. Of course 
the difference was not very great but it was noticeable. 
We had agreed upon a signal but this change in the 
speed of the train took its place, and that this was the 
supreme moment flashed upon all of us at once. I was 
on the point of looking around to see if the thought had 
struck the other boys when crash went the lantern, 
and then — 

"There rose so wild a yell, 
Within that dark and narrow cell, 
As all the fiends from Heaven that fell, 
Were pealing the battle cry of hell." 

The struggUng guards were shouting to each other. 



i8 WAR MBMORinS 

calling down all sorts of maledictions upon the 

Yankees. The light was out and in that car 
pandemonium had full swing. 

It is not necessary — hard as it is to avoid it — to go 
more fully into detail. Suffice it to say there was not a 
hitch in the whole proceeding. Our plans were carried 
out perfectly, and in less time, perhaps, than it takes 
now to write it out. When obstructions were removed 
we sprang out into the darkness. The boy who knocked 
out the light was the tallest member of the party and 
had been selected for that duty because of his ability to 
easily reach the lantern. He and his companion (who 
belonged to the same regiment) took advantage of the 
confusion and dodged out of the car at the outstart, 
leaving the three others engaged with the guard. It 
was well they did for they clung to the lantern which 
proved of great value to us afterward. It was perhaps 
about midnight when, full bruisers, we picked ourselves 
up out of the sand where we had fallen and in answer to 
suppressed whistling came together. 

We were free! The reflection brought with it 
feelings far different from those which possessed us a 
few minutes previous, yet when we contemplated our 
situation the thought occurred that expressions of 
pleasure at that time might be premature. We were 
not yet "out of the woods;" were in the heart of the 
enemy's country. To the nearest point of territory held 
by the Union forces it was more than a hundred miles. 
The future looked gloomy enough. The most difficult 
part of the task was yet to be overcome. 



WAR MEMORIES 



19 



The train had not yet stopped, and after con- 
gratulating ourselves, we proceeded to consider the 
course to be pursued as to. subsequent movements. At 
this moment another matter attracted our attention. A 
strange clattering noise v^as heard in the distance, and 
as it grew naore distinct we crouched upon the ground 
and with bated breath awaited results. Presently, 
three or four figures passed along the railroad track. 
The amount of noise made led us at first to believe there 
was quite a large force of troops coming, but it proved 
to be four negroes, who, we afterwards learned, were 
wearing wooded-soled shoes, which, owing to the scarcity 
of leather in the South, were worn almost entirely by this 
class of persons. These shoes were made by using raw- 
hide for the uppers and nailing it to the soles made of 
wood, the latter being from one-half to perhaps an inch 
thick; at least this is my recollection. After this little 
interruption we crossed the railroad and traveled west- 
ward in the direction of Tennessee. After walking 
three or four miles and becoming well nigh exhausted 
we lay down in the forest and slept till daylight. On 
waking up in ,the morning and finding ourselves too 
close to the open country for safety, we moved further 
into the woods and selecting what we supposed to be a 
secluded spot concluded to stop and recruit our wasted 
strength. The pangs of hunger were tormenting us, and 
how to get relief must now engage our attention. One 
of the party started out on a reconnaisance and in a 
couple of hours returned with six ears of corn. We 
took the lantern which, as before mentioned, was 



20 WAR MBMORIBS 

thrown out of the car, and which was pick 3.1 up and 
carried along, broke the top off, and used the tin bottom 
for parching our corn. We gathered a few sticks of 
wood and made a small fire, carefully guarding against 
making more smoke than could possibly be helped, we 
all fell to work parching and eating. Parched corn 
has not much tendency to allay hunger, consequently all 
we could get did not check the craving for more. 

I have heard a story which frequently occurs to me, 
and when it does I am invariably reminded of that 
parched corn experience. It is the story of an old 
darky who caught a 'possum, killed and dressed him, 
put it in the oven to bake, surrounding it with sweet 
potatoes, etc., and then the old man laid down to sleep 
while his 'possum baked. He was very hungry, and 
fondly anticipated a treat when he w^oke up. About the 
time the 'possum was done a mischievous acquaintance 
happened along, stole the 'possum and ate it all up. 
Then he took the bones, put them down in front of the 
old man, greased his lips with 'possum grease, and 
rubbed the grease over his fingers. When the old man 
woke up he missed his 'possum. He saw the bones 
lying in front of him. He saw 'possum grease on his 
fingers, and tasted 'possum grease on his lips, and finally- 
said : ''Well ; am it possible dat I eat dat 'ar 'possum 
while I war asleep? It done look like I must hab eat 
him ; but, fo' Gawd, dat 'ar 'possum had less effek on 
de stomach dan any 'possum dis chile eber eat." That 
was the way with the parched corn. It had a mighty 
poor effect on the stomach. 



WAR MBMOklBS 21 

We remained at that place that and the day follow- 
ing, having nothing to eat but parched corn. The corn 
was procured from a slave whose owner lived a short 
distance from where we were hiding. Fearing onr 
getting away might have been made known we kept 
very quiet, spending most our time deliberating as 10 
the best route to the Union lines and the means to be 
adopted to gain them, and trying to exterminate the tor- 
menting vermin which had started colonies upon every 
part of our clothing. It was an imperative duty, in 
order to keep the upper hand, to wage continual war 
upon these pests. On this occasion we had been pre- 
vented for one day from attending to this duty and in 
consequence they were in "shoals and nations," and we 
found it very difficult to reduce their numbers suffi- 
ciently to allow Us any comfort. Having told our black 
friend to collect three or four of his most intelligent 
acquaintances and bring them to see us, they appeared 
in camp on the evening of the second day. Without 
their counsel we might have made a fatal mistake at the 
outset. The southern negroes are, or were while slavery 
was in existence, the most consummate strategists in 
the matter of escaping or eluding pursuit. Many of 
them had been runaways, and those who had not were 
thoroughly schooled in the art by able teachers. Stories 
of the most marvelous flights and long continued success 
in evading capture by the master and blood hounds, were 
told me. One very old woman, whom I afterwards met, 
told me she had spent nearly her whole life in the 
swamps and cane brakes. In order to throw the blood 



2± WAR MBMORtBS 

hounds off their tracks they would besmeair their feet, 
hands and clothing with a mixture composed partly of 
brimstone. In crossing fences or going through the 
forests they were careful to allow no part of the body 
or dress to come in contact with the rails or trees but 
that which had been rubbed with the compound. We 
were advised to separate for the reason that if we re- 
mained together it would be difficult to find food for so 
many, and the chances for being discovered were much 
greater. When the pow-wow broke up it was well into 
the night, and taking leave of each other, we ''folded 
our tents, like the Arab, and silently stole away" into 
the darkness. 

Two of the party resolved to continue westward in 
the direction of Tennessee. The distance to the Union 
lines was greater but the country to be traveled was 
mountainous, and thought to be safer. One chose to 
go northward towards Virginia. Another started for 
Roanoke River, intending to follow it to the coast. I 
started directly eastward, having determined to take 
the nearest and most direct route to the U*nion forces 
on the coast of North Carolina, and intending to make 
up by caution what I might lose by having the most 
dangerous route. After traveling some time I came 
suddenly upon a cabin situated in the edge of the forest, 
and being almost famished I figured around until I sat- 
isfied myself that it would probably be safe to arouse 
the dwellers within. In most cases the cabins stood in 
clusters in the vicinity of the residence of the pro- 
prietor of the plantation on which they are situated. 



WAR MEMORIES 23 

But sometimes you would find one standing in some 
isolated spot far removed from any other. I had no 
means of knowing- what time it was — perhaps about 
midnight. An old black man answered my summons, 
and when he appeared I asked him if it would be safe 
in the house for a Yankee. Without giving him time 
to reply I pushed in past him. We closed the door and 
I then explained to him who I was and what I wanted. 
I found myself in a room containing some crude 
articles of .furniture and perhaps half a dozen Httle 
children lying promiscuously on the floor. The fire- 
place wais the most conspicuous thing in view. It occu- 
pied nearly the whole of one side of the cabin. The 
man aroused his wife and told her to get up and see a 
Yankee. She had evidently never seen a Union soldier 
and, like all others of her class, entertained strange 
ideas of his appearance. From the stories they had 
been told of the crimes committed by the Yankees and 
the punishment inflicted upon the black people who fell 
into their hands, their fancies had painted some hor- 
rible looking creature which would more resemble 
"old Nick" than anything else. 

After looking at me closely from head to foot, she 
exclaimed, ''Is you a Yankee?" ^'Yes," I replied, "I'm 
a Union soldier and belong to the northern army." 
"The Lor' bress me," she said, turning to her husband ; 
"Dey told us dey had horns, but he looks just like our 
folks," and she went on talking, sometimes addressing 
me, sometimes her husband, until I was compelled to 
interrupt her. I asked her if she could spare me a bite 



24 WAR MEMORIES 

of bread. ''Lor' yes, honey, ye look sta'ved," and she 
secured some meal, kneaded it into a hall as large as 
the fist, laid it on the hearth and covered it up with hot 
ashes. This is the way they make what is called an ash 
cake. 

While this was going on I felt somewhat anxious. 
During our hasty talk the old man said the Home 
Guards often visited the cabins of the black people in 
the night, in search of runaways and conscripts. These 
Home Guards were composed of those who were either 
too old or too young to go into service at the front. It 
seemed that all classes in the south had military duty of 
some kind to perform. As a precaution against discov- 
ery I went out some distance from the house and waited 
until the cake was brought out. In a short time my old 
friend came out with the cake. What a treat it was no 
one can form an idea. 

Striking out again, I followed the directions given 
me by the old man as near as I could in the darkness, 
and daylight the next morning found me close to a town 
wearily trudging along, nibbling at the ash cake which I 
carried in my pocket. This town proved to be Frank- 
linton, and, it will be remembered, was the same at 
which our train stopped, and where the guard was 
changed. Turning out of the road I went in search of 
a place to hide during the day. I soon ran into the 
brush, or timber, and in a little v/hile came across a 
number of stacks of newly made rails and railroad ties. 
I crept under one of these and sat down on the leaves, 
shivering with cold. It was in March. The nights were 



PVAR MEMORIES 25 

extremely cold. I was thinly clad, and sometimes 
thought I would perish. 

It was not long- until I heard persons approaching, 
and looking out between the rails, saw six or eight black 
men carrying axes. They had come to begin the day's 
work. We were soon engaged in conversation. They 
said some one might be there during the day, and to 
guard against my presence becoming known to them, 
and in order to make me as comfortable as possible, they 
gathered together more leaves and leaned more rail> 
against the stack. They lingered at work until after 
dark, and then. put me on the road to Louisburg, a town 
on the Tar River, about ten or twelve miles from 
Franklinton, one of them going some distance with 
me. Louisburg was the town I started for the night 
before, but, losing my way, had reached Franklinton, 
having made very little progress in the proper direction. 
I reached a point within a short distance of Louisburg 
about daylight. During the night I often felt very sick, 
and sometimes thought I could go no further. 

Now, as the day began to dawn, I was utterly 
prostrated, and with great difficulty reached some corn 
fodder stacks standing in a field. Lying down between 
the stacks. 1 remained there throughout the day, suffer- 
ing intensely. About dark I got up and staggered to 3. 
cabin which I noticed during the day, standing some 
distance away. Fortunately I found it occupied by 
black people. Giving them a brief account of myself, I 
asked for some hot tea of some kind. The woman went 
hastily to work to get it. I retired a short distance from 



26 WAR MBMORtBS 

the house, as a precaution, and waited until it was 
■brought out. It was made of herbs of some kind, and 
revived me very much. Louisburg is situated on the 
north bank of the Tar River. I was at this time two or 
three miles south of the river. Getting what informa- 
tion I could here, I started straight down the south side 
oi the river, leaving Louisburg to my left. I succeeded 
in making a point some five or six miles below, and east 
of the town, that night. The river runs eastward and 
empties into the Pamlico river at Greenville. 

Almost perishing from cold and exhaustion, 1 
anxiously 'awaited for daylight. It was my rule to look 
for a black man — in case I needed to see one — between 
dark and bed-time or about daylight in the morning. 
When daylight appeared I fortunately found one with- 
out much trouble, and it happened he was one of more 
than the average intelligence. Explaining my situation, 
I told him it was necessary that I should conceal myself 
for several days until I could gain strength. Realizing 
that an over-indulgence in food of any kind was 
dangerous on account of the debilitated condition of my 
stomach, I was very careful, but with all my caution, I 
had taken too much of the ash cake, and it came near 
killing me. We were not far from the river, and the 
man thought it advisable for us to cross to the north 
side, as he thought he knew of a place over there which 
would be safe from intrusion. So we hurried to the 
river bank, got into a 'Mug-out" which he pulled from 
among the bushes, and paddled across. The river banks 
were lined with timber and thick underbrush, land often 



tVAR MEMORIES ^7 

swampy ground. We pushed into the brush and soon 
came to the spot which he had fixed upon for my 
abode. The river was only a few rods wide, and in 
many places very difficult to approach on account of the 
heavy growth of 'brush of different kinds. The black 
people, however, knew every inch of the ground, and 
had secreted in many places all sorts of small boats — 
everything of the kind that would float and carry one 
across. A couple of small logs tied together would be 
sufficient, and even these, I afterwards learned, could 
be found in many places. The man, fearing his absence 
might be noticed, hurried away, telling me to remain 
there until night. That night he re-appeared, accom- 
panied by another man. This second man proved to be 
my guardian angel, as I shall show further along. They 
had with them some herb tea and a part of a bed quilt, 
both of which were of great value at that time. For 
some days I was in the greatest distress. 

During the stay at this place I would have more 
or less black people to see me every night. Curiosity to 
see a Northern man and a desire to render aid in :any 
way, was the motive which brought them. While there 
were a few free negroes among the visitors, the greater 
number were slaves. The latter would give accounts of 
their troubles, and many woeful stories of cruelty were 
rehearsed. 

At this place a black man gave me a dirk knife with 
a double-edged blade, for the purpose, he said, of pro- 
tecting myself against dogs or other enemies. He had 
made it by grinding down a file, and had produced a 



28 WAR MBMORIBS 

very formidable weapon. I have always remembered 
these people with the greatest interest. There was that 
one before spoken of who won my fullest gratitude. 
His name was Ben — Ben Foster. Foster, of course, 
was the name of the man who owned him. When I was 
weakest this man would carry me from place to place, 
when he thought there was danger of discovery by 
remaining too long in one place. 

I went in search of him a few years after the war, 
and found him not far from the scene of our first 
acquaintance. The incident of meeting this man a few 
years after the war was one of the most pleasant 
experiences I ever met with. He, of course, did not 
know me when I first approached, but to witness the 
looks of surprise and hear his expressions of happiness 
at seeing me again, alive and well, was worth to me a 
great deal more than it cost to go South and hunt him 
up. I was accompanied on the trip by M. L. A. 
McCracken, Esq., an eminent attorney, of Washington, 
Pa., and he was both interested and amused at the scene 
when we met. 

Many of these sLaves were shrewd and observing 
and fairly intelligent, and in conversation about matters 
connected with the war gave evidence of a pretty good 
understanding of the condition of things. They knew 
they were a prominent factor in the issue. And what 
wonderful faith they had in the guiding hand of an 
over-ruling Providence — faith in God anri Massa 
Lincoln. Their simplicity and earnestness in religious 
matters and their superstitions were prominent char- 



WAR MEMORIES 29 

acteristics. An old aunty told me to look out for the 
owls. If one hooted in front of me it meant bad luck; 
if one to the right or left or rear, it meant something — 
good, bad or worse; I forget just how they had it 
arranged. A man named Dick, an interesting character, 
who had more than once, he told me, attempted to 
get away from bondage, but was as often overtaken and 
returned to his master, came often to see me. He was a 
laughing, rollicking sort of a fellow, and was usually 
engaged in humming a melody or dancing — always 
full of merriment and music. He told me one night he 
would go and get a fishing line, and next morning 
would go to the river and get us some fish. I fully 
endorsed the proposition, because it promised to secure 
a kind of food I was very much in need of. The corn 
bread had sickened me; my stomach revolted against 
accepting it, but it was very difficult to get anything 
else, and I was compelled to use it. Before daybreak 
the following morning I was startled from an uneasy 
slumber by hearing Dick's familiar voice breaking the 
stillness of the season by humming, in a tone somewhat 
suppressed : 

''Cold, frosty mo'nin', niggah very good, 

Wid his axe on his shouldah, slippin' fro' de wood, 
Old rusty hoe cake, not a bit of fat, 
White folks grumble if you eat too much o' dat." 

He was armed with fishing tackle, and we proceeded 
to the river bank, but a short distance away. He took a 
position in the branches of a fallen tree lying close to 
the water's edge, while I fell back into the brush to 



30 WAR MEMORIES 

await resiilte. It was not long until Dick called, 
excitedly, ''Fo' de Lawd, massa, come quick." I 
hastened to where he was and found he had caught an 
eel. It was with some difficulty we got the thing off 
the hook, as everybody who has had the experience of 
taking an eel off a fishing hook will believe. We 
eventually secured it, and Dick slipped away to have it 
cooked. In due course of time he returned with it, 
nicely fried. My stomach, as before remarked, was out 
of shape, but I will remember that eel to my dying day 
as the sweetest morsel that ever went into my mouth. 

Time passed with me making a most miserable 
existence in the brush. One night I was suffering all 
that I could suffer and live^ when uncle Ben reached 
me, and, seeming to realize the extent of my affliction, 
laid out some plans of his own as to what should be 
done. A mile or more away, standing alone in the 
solitude of the forest, was an old cabin occupied by a 
free negro family named Jones. While there was some 
risk in the proposition, Ben determined I should be 
under shelter from the cold and damp, for a time, at 
least; so he picked me up and ''toted" me to this cabin, 
and arranged with the occupant, Mr. Jones, to take me 
back into the brush before daylight. This was repeated 
several nights. Soon after it was thought best to 
change my location to some point as distant from the 
present one as it was possible to get to in one night. 
Across the river and south of Louisburg, probably three 
or four miles, was a house belonging to the owner of a 
large plantation. It was located on a main road leading 



WAR MEMORIES 31 

southward from the bridge spanning the river at 
Louisburg. The house had been abandoned by the 
owner at the outbreak of the war, and the plantation, 
house, and household furniture had been left in the care 
of the slaves. Such a house had always been exempt 
from search by the Home Guards. The overseer on this 
plantation was a slave. It is a fact that slaves were 
sometimes chosen as overseers on plantations, and it is 
also said to be a fact that the lash was not spared when 
used by one of these overseers on the body of a fellow 
slave. 

It was determined by uncle Ben and one or two of 
his faithful friends that I should be taken toi the house 
spoken of and kept within it for a few days and nights. 
This was for the double' purpose of getting me away 
from the old neighborhood and of getting me under 
shelter. In going there we must either re-cross the 
river east of the town and make a long, circuitous 
journey, or go directly through it and cross the bridge. 
The latter route was chosen, and one night uncle Ben 
and a friend, and myself a few yards in the rear, entered 
the place. We had reached a point near the bridge, and 
I was waiting in the shadow of an old building standing 
in an alley for them to reconnoiter around the bridge 
and its approaches. They soon returned, showing con- 
siderable excitement and fright. They had discovered 
some one on the bridge, and, of course, fancied it was 
an enemy. We fell back in some disorder, it is true, but 
without meeting with any mishap. Not far from the 
town there lived a free negro family. The cabin stood 



Z2 WAR MEMORIES 

in an obscure s-pot, and to this cabin we directed our 
steps. We laid our case before them and secured their 
friendship and co-operation. I was permitted to pass 
the night and the following day in the loft of their 
house. It is my recollection that that day was Sunday; 
at any rate, quite a number of young black girls and 
boys gathered under the shade of some trees surround- 
ing the house and spent the greater part of the day in 
innocent amusement — singing and dancing. None but 
members of the household knew a Yankee was peeping 
under the eaves, looking at the performances. The scene 
was the most amusing and enjoyable of the kind I ever 
witnessed. The antics of the actors were "to the manor 
born," while the flirtations of the sable beaus and belles 
showed that at least some of the customs of the white 
folks had crept into plantation society. When the party 
broke up in the evening, they went off, making the 
country resound with the music of native songs. 

On that night we again started to make our way 
through the town and across the bridge. We reached 
the borders of the town, and cautiously joining the pro- 
cession of people going to church, we mingled with them 
until we got in the neighborhood of the bridge. I 
might occupy a page or two describing our manoeuvers 
while getting to and over the bridge. It is sufficient to 
say that we successfully passed over, and some time 
after the middle of the night reached our destination, 
the mansion on the plantation above spoken of. The 
black overseer was not permitted to know of my 
presence. Uncle Ben was afraid to trust him. But his 



WAR MEMORIES 33 

wife unlocked the gate of the fence which surrounded 
the house, and took me into the house and directed me 
to remain there until she called. A very ferocious dog 
was running loose within the enclosure surrounding the 
house, and it was with great difficulty the woman could 
keep him from springing on me while going from the 
gate to the house. This dog being there was probably 
one of the reasons why it was thought I would be free 
from discovery and could remain in the house un- 
disturbed. I was kept in this house three days and 
nights, and being for that long sheltered from the cold 
and damp night atmosphere, my health was much 
benefitted. Fearing too long a stay there might prove 
disastrous, we again worked our way back to a point 
over the river a few miles east of Louisburg, and not 
verv far from my former place of abode in the forest. 
At the expiration of a few days more, it being 
probably eighteen or twenty since first striking the dis- 
trict, I was called upou to get out in a hurry. 

During my stay in this neighborhood, I learned there 
was a northern man living at Louisburg, who had located 
there before the war, and who was anxious to communi- 
cate with me. He had remained true to the Union, and, 
through some disability, had escaped being conscripted 
into the southern army. He sent a letter directed to some 
friends in the north, and asked that I should carry it 
through for him. In a note accompanying the letter, he 
said he would be glad to have au interview, but realiz- 
ing the danger connected with an attempt to visit me, 
he concluded to waive the desire. He held a position as 



34 WAR MEMORIES 

a teacher in an educational institution of that place. I 
was compelled to destroy the letter some days later, 
when there was danger of my again falling into the 
hands of the rebels. Rumors which reached me that 
the people had learned there was a Yankee in the 
country, and that search with blood hounds might be 
made, had a tendency to hasten the start. 

Blood hounds! All who have a knowledge of the 
character of this savage brute will be able to form 
some idea of the horror which the very mention of them 
would create in the mind. To explain more fully, I 
will say that the night before I started, an old aunty, 
probably sixty years of age, came to my dwelling place 
and said that the day before she had been tied to a post 
and lashed on the bare back. For proof she insisted on 
my examining her shoulders. I found them cruelly 
bruised and lacerated. Having heard of my presence, 
she concluded to visit me, with the hope that I might 
suggest some means by which she would be relieved of 
such torture in the future. I was persuaded, partly by 
her pleading, and partly by a sincere desire tO' aid her, 
to write her a pass. I signed her master's name to it. 
She secured the materials for the purpose. Everybody 
in the South in those days had to have a pass. She 
evidently left her home early the following morning. 
Armed with her pass, she concluded she would be safe 
under its protection. She was arrested during the day 
while loitering around Louisburg; and in the investi- 
gation which followed the pass was proven fraudulent. 
I had friends who were watching the proceedings, and 



WAR MBMORIBS 35 

the news came to me with the speed of the wind. It was 
feared she might be compelled to betray me. At any 
rate, it was considered the part of wisdom for me to 
strike out, although I was yet quite feeble, at the earliest 
convenient moment. In order to prevent the possibility 
of being overtaken by blood hounds, we proceeded to the 
river bank as soon as darkness appeared, and, with as 
much haste as possible, constructed a rude boat from 
material found in the bushes, and which had doubtless 
been used for the same purpose before. 

Three of my faithful friends were there — Ben, and 
Dick and Ed. Dick wanted to go along with me and we 
had some difficulty to dissuade him. I knew if he went 
along and I wa^s caught with him in my company I 
would in all probability be shot and he would be flogged 
severely. At last — probably near midnight — we were 
ready. I picked up the pole which we had secured for 
the purpose of managing my boat, and with their '^God 
bless you, massa, wish you good luck," ringing in my 
ears, I pushed out into the stream. I spent the greater 
part of the balance of the night on the water. Having 
worked to the opposite shore I shoved my frail and 
sometimes unruly craft along until near morning, when 
I abandoned it and took to the brush. I have no idea I 
made a very great distance by water, and yet, for rea- 
sons above stated, it was a wise thing to do. 

It must be understood that I would always hunt a 
hiding place as soon as daylight appeared. As evening 
twilight came on I would sally forth, and if needing in- 
formation, would first hunt up a black man. I never 



36 WAR MEMORIES 

attempted to travel by day. The cabins of the black 
people were built of logs, having but a single room on 
the ground floor, and sometimes there was a loft made, 
boards being thrown over the ceiling joists, covering 
half the room, more or less. This upper apartment was 
used for the purpose of storing away articles which 
could not well ibe kept below. It was usually reached 
by a ladder. 

On this day I sat around, pa'ssing the time taking 
short naps, and in the interval nibbling at the corn bread 
which had been supplied by uncle Ben. I was begin- 
ning to feel strong again, and was thrilled by thoughts 
that I would now soon be at home among friends, iand 
then back with the boys at the camp-fire, participating 
in their amusements and sharing in their triumphs. 

That night, soon after starting out, I ran into the 
vicinity of a cluster of cabins, :and loitered about watch- 
ing for an opportunity to see what kind of people occu- 
pied them. In the course of time a man came out, and 
I was near enough to see by the moonlight that it was a 
black man. After some figuring I hailed him, and mak- 
ing myself known was invited into the house. I was in 
there but a moment when a noise was heard on the out- 
side. The man pointed to the ladder, and I sprang onto 
it. I struck the rung heavily ; it broke, and in a moment 
Yankee and ladder were tangled up on the floor. While 
in this situation, with the occupants of the house looking 
in consternation at the picture before them, the door 
opened, and in stepped a man and woman. Fortunately 
they were friends of the family, who came as visitors. 



IVAR MEMORIES 3; 

To say that I was mortified at the lawkward predica- 
ment, but poorly expresses it. Explanation made every- 
thing- right, and I soon shook the dust of that cabin 
from my feet, and never again repeated the mistake of 
going into one. The tramp that night was uneventful. 
As usual, when time arrived to put up for the day I 
went around looking for a proper place to locate and ^o 
to bed. 

I soon struck the wet, oozy earth, which proved to 
be the beginning of a swamp. Swamps were numerous 
in that country, and I was glad they were. They af- 
forded the best hiding places. I penetrated this one 
some distance and perched myself on a fallen tree trunk 
to doze and sleep away the day. The tree had been 
blown down, and large roots extending out in all direc- 
tions, held it up out of the water. I was lying stretched 
out on this tree when, aibout the middle of the afternoon 
or later, the distant bay of hounds reached my ears. It, 
of course, occurred to me they were blood hounds, and 
were on my trail. It was two days since leaving the 
river bank below Louisburg, and I had begun to feel 
that the danger I had run into there had passed. But 
with the stories of the negroes regarding the hound.s 
still well remembered, it was natural for me to conclude 
that it could not be otherwise than that these were the 
dreaded brutes, and they were after me. One thing is 
certain, the noise greatly alarmed me, and as it grew 
continually louder and nearer I grasped the limb of a 
tree within reach and swung myself into a position on 
it some eight or ten feet irom the root of the fallen tree 



3^ IVAR MBMORIBS 

I had been sitting on. My position was surrounded by 
water from one to two feet deep for one to three hun- 
dred yards, aind a dense forest. Taking my knife in 
my hand I waited results. I have heard it denied that 
a man's hair would "stand up" in case of fright, but if 
my head didn't resemble the "fretful porcupine" about 
now, T have ever since been laboring under a delusion. 

Nearer land still nearer sounded the cry of the dogs. 
They presently reached the water at the point about 
where I entered it, as I thought. What a thrilling mo- 
ment! Instead of plunging in, however, they turned 
aside and ran around in a circle, as I understood blood 
hounds did when they lost a trail. I occasionally got a 
glimpse of one in the distance as a chance view is caught 
between the trees. The hoarse, foreboding howl created 
a terror hard to explain, and filled me with a dreadful 
apprehension that they might the next moment come 
rushing through the brush. How long this continued I 
could not know. It was certainly not long, although it 
seemed an age to me. At length a change in the situa- 
tion seemed to take place. They were apparently going 
oflf. The cries were sounding further away. They became 
more prolonged, more mournful, as they gradually grew 
less distinct, and as I sat there and listened to the 
chorus dying away in the distance my heart quit its 
thumping, my nerves relaxed, and a feeling of relief, 
such as is seldom felt by man, came over me. For a 
while, however, things looked bad to *'a man up a tree," 
I assure you. If they were blood hounds, as I thought 
they were, there was no one with them to direct them 



tVAR MEMORIES 39 

into the water, which they will not enter without being 
urged. When darkness came on I cautiously crept out 
and hurried away. 

The next morning I reached a shed standing in a 
field, which proved to be partly filled with corn fodder. 
Concluded it would be a snug place to spend the day. 
Inasmuch as it stood alone and out of sight of any 
dwelling I thought it would be safe as well as com- 
fortable. Going in, I at once burrowed under the fod- 
der, and after carefully pulling a covering of stalks and 
blades over my shivering body, was soon dozing away. 
How long I slept I had no means of knowing when a 
noise as of some one approaching aroused me. The dry 
husks and stalks lay all around the shed, and the tramp- 
ling over them could be distinctly heard. Presently the 
steps reached the door, and as one fell within it an im- 
pulse to spring out and trust to the knife and circum- 
stances to get away was allayed only b}- a hope that I 
would not be disturbed. How still and quiet I tried to 
keep. The efifort to avoid making the least noise made 
the drawing of my breath, and the consequent rise and 
fall of the fodder with my respiration, sound to my 
ears like claps of thunder. I could accurately follow the 
intruder in and back to the door and hear the fodder 
dropped on the outside. Out and slowly back came the 
evil disturber of my slumbers, and right over me it 
stopped. The prison pen, with all its horrors, seemed 
staring me in the face. Scratch came the hands diving 
into the fodder, and as my covering was taken away I 
cautiously rose up. To my agreeable surprise I discov- 



40 tVAR MEMORIES 

ered the intruder was a black woman. She threw the 
fodder on the outside and returning, as she stepped into 
the door, she discovered me standing-, Hke an apparition, 
before her. Looking the very picture of fright and aston- 
ishment, she threw up her hands and exclaimed : "Fo' 
de Lo'd, massa, wha' you come from?" I held up my 
hand in token of silence, and hastily explained who 1 
was and how I got there. I told her I was very tired, 
and would like to find a place where I could rest during 
the day undisturbed. She said there would be no one 
there again that day, and for me to stay there and she 
would send uncle somebody out in the evening to see me. 
Sure enough, just after dark, that evening, a dusky form 
came creeping up to the shed. I was on the lookout, 
and watched him closely for a while without allowing 
him to see me. This to guard against treachery. How 
thoughtful it was in him to have a good quantity of hoe- 
cake with him. He gave me necessary information as 
to roads, forest tracks, etc., and told me how to avoid 
da.ngerous points in my pathway. 

I wandered on and put in the time as usual plowing 
through forest and swamp through the night, and laying 
up during the day. The next evening I found myself 
somewhat at a loss to know what direction to take in 
order to get into the proper course. I started out a 
little before dark and soon struck a swamp — no unusual 
thing — but after quite a walk and no signs of solid 
ground appearing, but seemingly an interminable 
stretch of brush and tangled vines in front and on all 
sides, the fear crept over me that I had lost my bearings. 



WAR MEMORIES 41 

The shadows under the trees were growing blacker and 
broader and darkness was gathering fast. At every 
step I sank almost knee deep into the wet, oozy earth. I 
cHmbed on a log and peering forward could see nothing 
but dense masses of underbrush and overhanging 
boughs. Wheeling about I made the best possible speed 
back over my tracks. With darkness increasing at everv 
step it was difficult to find the way, and chance, more 
than sagacity on my part, brought me to firm ground. I 
afterwards learned from negroes the swamp covered a 
large extent of territory and had I gone farther 
would in all probability have become confused and 
eventually have perished. It was not long after 
emerging from the swiamp and while I was leaning 
against a pine tree, when one of those severe southern 
rain storms burst through the clouds and I stood there 
in the drenching rain while the great pines moaned a 
chorus to the music of the storm. Strange as it may 
seem I felt glad that it had come. The darkness would 
hide me from the sight of man. Even blood hounds 
would not pursue la. trail on such a night. Cold chilling 
March rain in North Carolina, and me nearly naked. 
I hugged up as close to the tree as possible hoping for 
shelter. Mercy ! how it does rain down there when 
it rains. It was long after midnight when I made my 
way back from the region of the swamp until I stumbled 
on a cart track and taking a position in its neighborhood 
remained there until daylight. 

I then went in search of information. Getting sight 
of a black man I watched him until he entered the 



42 WAk MBMORlnS 

timiber and then had an interview. I learned from him 
that not far away was a turpentine furnace, and black 
men were there engaged in making turpentine. I 
hid in the brush until night and then struck for the 
turpentine furnace. I reached it about the middle of the 
night. I remained in its vicinity the balance of the 
night and following day. I was then within a few miles 
of the town of Wilson, which is situated on the 
Wilmington and Weldon Railroad. I must pass this 
town and with the view of saving myself from the 
necessity of wandering around two or three nights in 
order to get beyond it I secured the services of two 
young men who were vvorking at the furnace to go with 
me and show me the easiest and safest way around it. 
It was a rule always observed to turn aside when 
coming upon any habitation, whatever, and make a more 
or less wide circuit in order to avoid both men and dogs. 
Accordingly after nightfall, we started forward 
cautiously following the road, and reaching a point near 
the town we sat down on the roadside to discuss ways 
and means of getting to the other side. After fully 
canvassing the subject we at last concluded to go 
straight through the place. Mose, the most intelligent 
of the two, said he knew every street and by-way, and 
felt certain of his abilitv to get me through. The knife 
I always carried conveniently hanging to my side. 
Towards the middle of the night we entered the place, 
Mose and his friend, by pre-arrangement, some ten or 
fifteen paces in advance. They were walking in the 
middle of the street. I stumbled along the rough side 



WAR MEMORIES 43 

walk until we got well into the town and then fell into 
their tracks in the street. It had been arranged they 
would give me warning in case there was any sign of 
danger ahead. A train of cars on the Gaston & 
Wilmington Railroad went whistling across the street 
in front of us. The arrival of that train at that time 
was, I afterwards felt, a happy circumstance, because I 
think it contributed somewhat to helping me out of a 
difficult situation before I got out of the town. 

Everything proceeded well until we were about to 
emerge from the town, perhaps passing the last houses, 
when two soldiers (Home Guards), with guns in their 
hands, put in an appearance, one coming from each side 
of the street. They walked rapidly towards my guides 
and called out: ''Wha' ye all gwine?" Mose tried to 
give them the explanation which had been agreed upon 
in case just such an emergency should happen. He said 
he was going to Massa somebody's, to chop wood. The 
scheme would not work and they were turned back. 
When they were halted I stopped just a moment and 
revolved in my mind what I would do. It came to me 
like an inspiration. A retreat on my part would arouse 
suspicion. I dare not go back. I threw my heavy 
Vv^alking stick into my left hand, leaving ni}- right free 
for emergencies, and marched straight forward. 
Meeting my guides and passing on I fountl the guards 
waiting for me to come up. The same question was put 
to me : ''Wha' you all gwine ?" as I walked stiffly past 
between them. I told them I was going home and 
indignantly denounced them for attempting to stop me. 



44 J^AR MBMORIBS 

I swore "like a trooper," called them cowards, 
accompanying every word with the necessary adjective 
to make it as emphatic as possible. I told them I had a 
furlough, and gave the impression that I belonged to that 
neighborhood. While I was talking I was walking 
steadily away from them. I kept up the sulphurous 
fusilade until I was well out of their hearing. I have 
always felt that this was one of the very rare occasions 
when profanity was justified. They were completely 
thrown off their guard — utterly taken by surprise and 
confounded. They stood there without saying a word 
in reply, and before they recovered I was beyond sight 
and hearing. I have always thought they did not report 
the incident, fearing their course in allowing a stranger 
to pass them would be condemned and punished. It was 
one of those strange fortunate accidents that could 
happen only once in a lifetime. 

The course I pursued was undoubtedly the right 
one. The audacity of the movement was in its favor, 
and the passage of the train through the town as we 
entered it probably helped me out. After going some 
distance, probably a mile or more, I heard a rapid tramp, 
tramp, behind me, and quickly dropping into the brush 
on the roadside, waited to see what was coming. Soon 
a form passed, running rapidly. I could see well 
enough to feel convinced it was one of my guides. 
Springing out into the road behind him I soon over- 
hauled him. It proved to be Mose. He said when ''de 
ga'ds" turned him back he took off on a side street and 
came out on the road outside of the town. His 



WAR MEMORIES 45 

companion he had lost, and from the way he talked I 
thought he was glad of it. He was determined to go 
on with me and pleaded earnestly to be allowed to do so. 
His claim that he was well acquainted with the country 
and could take me through in a few nights, induced me 
to consent. We were yet fifty miles from the coast. 
That and the following night we spent in reaching 
Greenville, which we did near the middle of the night, 
without incident. 

It was too near daylight to attempt to get through 
or around Greenville that night so we "laid very close to 
the ground" during the day and anxiously awaited for 
the coming of another night. When it came Mose 
proposed to hunt up a black man who would be willing 
to ''pilot" us around the town. Traveling around 
through the brush and across fields we ran against a 
caibin and after considerable manoeuvering found the 
occupants were the right color. Mose got the man out 
some distance from the house and asked him if he 
would take us to a point on the road beyond the town. 
He surprised us by asking pay for the service. It was 
the first instance of the kind I had met with. As he and 
Mose were making the negotiations I attributed the 
speculation part to the fact that the man was dealing 
with one of his own color. W^e had no money but I had 
an extra coat uncle Ben had procured for me while I 
was lying about Louisburg. The coat was made of 
cotton material and was considerably threadbare, but in 
the darkness Mose was able to make the fellow believe 
it was quite valuable. He consented to take it instead 



46 WAR MEMORIES 

of the money, and he and his son agreed to go. The\- 
placed themselves a few rods in advance and led us a 
long journey around Greenville. They had reached the 
road leading from Greenville to Washington and 
Newburn, N. C, and Mose and I were coming up 
behind slowly and carefully picking our steps when in 
the suddenness of a moment the guides came rushing 
back, and passing us, without saying a word, fled with 
the speed of Tam O'Shanter's mare when she was 
trying to make the keystone oi the bridge. We turned 
and followed of course. Mose overtook them and 
demanded an explanation. They said when they looked 
up the road they saw a man on horseback riding directly 
towards them. Instead of lying quiet they ran away 
from the supposed danger. I noticed it was their way 
always to at once take to flight on the occasion of any 
alarm. It was my rule at such times to drop to the 
ground and get into shelter of the brush as quietly as 
possible. We dismissed them and started forward 
again keeping off the road and going eastwardly on a 
line which we supposed was parallel with it. We were 
now about twenty-five miles from Washington, a town 
near the mouth of the Pamlico River, North Carolina, 
which was occupied by the Union forces. 

W^e found it necessary from this time forward to 
use great caution. We kept in the brush and slowly felt 
our way. After another night's travel we found 
ourselves at daylight fixing a nest under the trunk of a 
fallen tree. It had been blown down and v^/as held up 
off the ground by its roots. Here we expected to spend 



M'AR MEMORIES 47 

the day. We were probably twelve or fifteen miles from 
Greenville and ten or twelve miles from Washington, 
N. C, where we hoped our pilgrimage would end. At 
this point I lost Mose. We crawled under the trunk of 
the tree and drew leaves and branches up on either side, 
completely hiding us from view. Near evening a noise 
was heard, and, peering out, we saw a white man and 
woman coming directly toward us. They were 
evidently absorbed in conversation. They could not see 
us. Our best plan was to lay still. But the sight of a 
white face was too much for Mose. He slipped out on 
the opposite side of the log, giving no heed to my warn- 
ing to lie still, and, dodging from tree to tree, he was 
soon lost to sight and hearing. The old people passed 
close by the root of the tree. Giving them time to get 
away, I crawled out and went in search of Mose. 1 
shouted as loud as I dared, and whistled around the 
neighborhood until near dark. I have never seen him 
since. His fear of falling into the hands of his master 
probably induced him to run and keep running. I gave 
up the search with great reluctance, because we were so 
near friends and I had a great desire to get the faithful 
fellow through. He was about as successful in leading 
his charge within view of the promised land as one of 
the same name aforetime, and .failed as utterly to enter 
it himself, at least, so far as I know. 

I struck out in the direction the old folks had taken 
and soon came to an open field, across which, perhaps 
half a mile away, stood a house. It was getting toward 
dark and I concluded to pass near the house in the hope 



48 WAR MBMORIES 

of getting near the road and locating myself. I crossed 
a field and was climbing a fence. I was about to jump 
to the ground when my eyes fell upon a man standing 
at a .fence corner but a few steps away. We discovered 
each other about the same time and were both equally 
surprised at the meeting. It was the same old gentle- 
man who had passed our hiding place in the forest. He 
was looking at some hogs which were running around 
in the field. I went toward him and extended my hand. 
He took it and greeted me in a cordial way. xA-fter pass- 
ing some casual remarks I told him I belonged to the 
25th North Carolina Regiment, and was on my return 
to rejoin the command after visiting my home, which I 
told him was in Franklin County. This was the 
county in which I had left the train. It will be here 
appropriate to mention that the Confederate forces, 
under General Hoke, was at that time investing 
Washington, situated at the mouth of the Pamlico 
River, North Carolina, the place I was aiming to reach. 
His troops had taken Plymouth and had moved on 
Washington a iew days ahead of me. This fact aided 
me to deceive the old gentleman, but it unfortunately 
increased the difficulties which I had to encounter in my 
progress iorward. He said the Confederate soldiers 
had been around for a day or two. Some of them had 
been at his house, the last ones but a few hours previous. 
I accepted his kind invitation to the house, but pur- 
posely loitered along and delayed reaching it until 
about dark. Here I met the old lady, the other member 
of the part}- which gave Mose the fright. I refused to 



WAR MEMORIES 49 

go into the house on their kind invitation, and we 
stood talking on the outside near the door — my object 
being to take a position which would give me the best 
chance to get away in case an enemy should appear. 
During our talk the old lady denounced the war and its 
authors, including among the latter both Lincoln and 
Jeff Davis. I thought she was more severe on Davis. 
Three sons — all the children she had — had been com- 
pelled to go intO' the Confederate army. One had 
already been killed and one was wounded. This fact 
probably had a tendency to move her to direct her 
denunciations against Davis. However, as I endorsed 
her words and expressed sympathy, she leaned more 
and more toward Union sentiments. The old gentleman 
went some distance with me. We entered the forest 
anvl took a seat on a log. Here we remained talking 
until it was quite late. I was tempted to tell him the 
truth about myself, but realizing that it might embarrass 
him and would be of no service to myself I refrained. 
I got valuable information from him as to the location 
and sentiments of the people living on the way. 

As I neared Washington extreme care had to be 
observed, and it was necessary on account of the 
iwamps which abounded here on all sides, to keep pretty 
close to the road. My feet and legs were always wet 
from wading in the swamps, and I had become so tired 
and weary of clambering through the brush and water, 
that I sometimes felt like running the risk and keeping 
the road. This I tried on one occasion, but was soon 
driven oflf by the approach of a force of Confederate 



50 WAR MEMORIES 

troops. The town of Washington lay on the north side 
of the river. I was traveling down the south side. The 
main force of the enemy was on the north side, yet a 
sufficient force was on the south side to make demon- 
stration against the Union troops guarding the 
approaches to the bridge. These .forces I was obliged 
to pass, and it took fine figuring and careful manoeuver- 
ing indeed. But slow progress was made from this time 
forward. Groping along, peering ahead through the 
darkness, dodging off when anything in the shape of a 
soldier appeared in iront — and nearly every object 
would assume such a shape in my excited imagination. 
Put to flight occasionally by a pesky stump, which in 
the darkness would suddenly grow into a giant sentinel 
armed cap-a-pie, I made slow headway. 

Finally, without dwelling upon details, I reached the 
house of a Mr. Caldwell, about the middle of the night, 
and knocked at his back door. I had learned from the 
gentleman above mentioned that this Mr. Caldwell was 
a Union man, and at his house I first struck an under- 
ground road which extended far up into the country, 
and was used for conveying information and necessaries 
to Union families living in the interior, and also for 
guiding refugees into the Union lines. Mr. Caldwell, 
being, no doubt, suspicious, and naturally iearful of 
falling into a trap set for him by the enemy, was 
exasperatingly cautious. He said the soldiers (meaning 
Confederates) had occupied his premises the night be- 
fore and were all around there during the day. He also 
said he had been told they had taken possession of 



WAR MEMORIES 51 

Washington. This alarmed me, because if they had, I 
was liable to fall into their hands unless I steered clear 
of the place. He, however, gave me directions how to 
reach the house of Mr. Archie Hill. From Mr. Hill's 
on to the residence of a Mr. Kennerly, which was not 
far from where the pickets usually stood. Mr. Kennerly 
was a Union man, and I have learned since that he was 
a Presbyterian clergyman. He lived at the forks of the 
roads which came from Newbern and Greenville, and 
forming a junction, ran on into Washington. 

It was just breaking day when I reached the back 
door of Mr. Kennerly's house. My summons was soon 
answered by the gentleman himself. I was anxious to 
make an end of my wanderings that morning. I 
inquired the way to the picket post. He looked at me 
suspiciously, and said I could follow the road. I told 
him I did not want to be seen; that I hoped the Union 
forces still occupied the town. At this he glanced me 
over and seemed to get a revelation. He took me by the 
arm and drew me inside the door and exclaimed: *'Oh! 
you are a refugee. Come in. How in the world did you 
get through ? They have been fighting around here for 
several days. We have not been in bed for three nights. 
Did you come through underground?" And so on, 
excitedly plying me with questions— sometimes answer- 
ing himself, without allowing me opportunity to explain. 
By refugee is meant a native of the country who might 
be fleeing from home and endeavoring to get into the 
Union lines. After getting into the room in presence 
of his wife, she joined him in expressions of wonder at 



52 WAR MEMORIES 

my success in evading the enemy and expressed 
sympathy for my distressed condition. The table, on 
which were some cold meat and a plate of biscuit, was 
standing in the middle of the room. I refused their 
kind invitation to sit down and contented myself by ac- 
cepting a couple of biscuit which I pocketed and hurried 
away. He told me where the pickets would probably be 
found, and pointed out how I could get to the road near 
them by following a by-path through the forest, and 
cautioned me to be very careful because they had been 
fighting over on the other side for several days and it 
was possible the Confederates might have taken the 
town. If they had of course their pickets would be at 
the post. 

I did not get a chance to explain to him who I was 
and left him in the belief that I was a North Carolina 
refugee. It was perhaps not more than a mile from his 
house to where the pickets ought to be found. Hurry- 
ing along the path through the brush as he directed I 
struck a fence which I had been told if followed would 
lead me to a point on the road not far from the out- 
post, and I would there be able to take observations and 
probably learn whether Union or Confederate soldiers 
were holding the post. Keeping close to the fence — cau- 
tiously creeping along, all the while closely examining 
the territory in front of me I came to the road. It was 
not full daylight and the fog and mists obstructed the 
view. Dodging around fence corners and getting a 
position so that I could look down the road, I discovered 
a couple of hundred yards away, a blue-coated sentinel 



WAR MBMORIBS 53 

pacing back and forth across the road. Keeping trees 
and fence in range between us I stealthily crept nearer. 
Was that sentinel a Yankee was the first thing to be 
settled satisfactorily? I looked intently. His coat, his 
cap, his every movement was carefully noted. Yes, 
surely. The guards at the reserve post began to move 
about. They were back perhaps a couple of hundred 
yards beyond the picket or outpost. As it grew lighter 
a fair view of them was caught. The glorious blue. 
There can be no mistake. With difficulty I kept from 
shouting for the Union and the old fiag. 

Stepping out into the road I threw up my hands in 
token of surrender and marched towards the sentinel. 
When I arrived within a few steps of him he brought 
down his gun and commanded me to halt. I took the 
knife from my belt and threw it at his feet and told him 
I was otherwise unarmed 'and would be glad to come in. 
He called for the sergeant of the guard. When that 
officer came forward I was admitted witliin the lines. 
Of course an explanation was given. That I had been 
^'through the mill" as well as the swamps, my external 
appearance bore testimony. Pantaloons in ribbons below 
the knees, partly barefooted, the little flesh left on my 
limbs scratched, poisoned and swollen from having been 
compelled so often to wade through water, I was a 
picture of the direst distress. But the haven was reached 
at last. The imagination must be left to picture my 
feelings. Any attempt to describe them would result in 
utter failure to do the subject justice. With gratitude 
to God and those kind and faithful people who were 



54 ^AR MBMORtBS 

instrumental in making the journey a success, I felt the 
extremest sensations of joy. 

The boys were making coffee, and I got a good 
share Oif it. I had not had any coffee for about seven 
months, and of course relished it now. From this picket 
post to the bridge it was perhaps two miles, more or less. 
Throughout this distance the ground was covered by 
water and a corduroy road was constructed. This is 
made by piling logs one upon another until they reach 
above the water. Midway between the post and the 
bridge there was a block house or fort. It was occupied 
by a detachment of a hundred men. I was taken over 
this road, past the block house, on over the bridge into 
Washington, and presented to General Palmer, who was 
in command of the forces on the North Carolina coast 
at the time. Two soldiers w.ere detailed at the picket 
post to escort me to the headquarters of the command- 
ing officer. 

Washington was evacuated that same day, our 
forces falling back to Newbern. If I had been one day 
later — well, we need not speculate upon what might 
have been the result. I was forwarded under guard to 
Newbern, going around the Sound on the same vessel 
which carried the commanding officer. I was kept 
under guard by our own .forces until I was identified. 
This was in accordance with military usage. At New- 
bern I was taken to the barracks, or building used for 
confining prisoners of war taken by our own forces. 
The commanding officer was a colonel of a Massa- 
chusetts regiment. I have lost his name. His wife was 



WAR MEMORIES 55 

with him and they were Hving in the adjoining building. 
The good woman, happening to discover me as I was 
taken into the door, and being attracted by the clothes 
I wore, and my "lean and hungry look," asked her 
husband to bring me into the house. In response to her 
inquiries, I gave her a brief account of my adventures. 
She kindly directed that I should be supplied with 
soap and water and an opportunity to use them and also 
secured from the Government stores a new suit of cloth- 
ing—all except a coat. The gray Confederate jacket I 
was wearing was "scalded out" and thoroughly cleaned. 
That jacket is now in the museum or relic room of the 
Court House at Washijigton, Pa., the only memento in 
existence — except myself — of that memorable trip. She 
also assigned me to a room and luxurious bed in her 
house while I remained at that place. 

What a pleasing change! From the immediate 
presence "of most disastrous chances ; of moving acci- 
dents by flood and field," to this shelter and delightful 
rest. 

Two days after coming into Newbern I went 
around by ocean transport to Fort Monroe, and there I 
found Capt. W, H. Meyers, formerly from my own 
county in Pennsylvania, who was acting provost marshal 
at that point, who identified me and took me from under 
the charge of the guard. I can so well remember how 
the captain's big heart rejoiced when he discovered me 
and found he could render me so great a service. 

Remaining over night with the captain, I was 
furnished transportation by him, and the following day, 



56 JVAR MEMOktBS 

being May i, 1864, proceeded' to Pleasant Valley, near 
Harper's Ferry, where I found a part of my regiment, 
under command of Colonel A. J. Greenfield. The 
colonel kindly detailed a man to nurse me to health, and 
thanks to a rugged constitution it was not long until I 
was again on duty. Remained in active service with 
my regiment till the close of the war. With this 
exception I never spent a day in hospital or failed to 
answer daily roll call during my whole service in the 
army, which was three years and three months. 

I have earnestly endeavored to learn the fate oi the 
boys who left the car with me, but have failed. Two 
of them claimed to belong to the Harris Light Cavalry, 
a New York regiment. I have been down through 
North Carolina, over the tracks I made on that memor- 
able march, and have advertised in all papers likely to 
reach the ex-soldiers. I have not much hope now, 
although stranger things have happened. The chances 
for getting through were perhaps one in a hundred, on 
account of the vigilance of the citizens of the so-called 
Confederacy. They were always on the lookout for 
deserters, conscripts and runaway slaves. The south 
was literally an armed camp. Every man, old and 
young, and, I might say, woman and child, was in the 
service in some capacity. So when a stranger was 
discovered they raised the alarm, and with shotgun in 
hand and blood hound on the trail, gave chase. A man 
had little chance against such odds. 

As I approached the block house between the 
picket post and the bridge I got a glimpse of the starry 



IVAR MEMORIES S7 

emblem. It was attached to a staff on the top of the 
fort, and it appeared to me to embody everything that 
was beautiful and good. It could have been no more 
welcome to a luckless mariner afloat on a boundless 
sea without a compass than it was to me. As the mists 
lifted it came into view amidst all the splendor of a 
southern sunrise, and as its spotless colors rolled in 
merry and playful billows across the sky my heart 
swelled with joy unspeakable. 

Now peace hovers over the land. 

'"No more are hostile standards reared, 
Nor. bugle note nor trump is heard — 

The war drums cease : 
The blue-coats scatter through the land ; 
The erewhile soldiers, plough in hand, 
Of their own hard won fields demand 

The earth's increase ; 
Or ply their skill with sharper zest, 
Where shafts nor wheels nor halt nor rest; 
O'er North and South and East and West 

Broods White-winged Peace." 

And it is the earnest wish of us all that it may be 
perpetual. 



APPENDIX 



HOW AND WHERE I WAS CAPTURED. 

In September, 1863, Major Stevens, of the ist W. Va. 
Vol. Infantry, was occupying a position near Moorefield, Va., 
having six companies of his own regiment, two pieces of 
artillery, and Qapt. A. J. Barr's company of cavalry (afterwards 
Company F, 22d Pa. Vol. Cav.). The Major had received 
information that a force of the enemy was approaching his 
post, and in ordei' to secure as full intelligence as possible of 
location, number, etc., scouting squads were sent out on the 
different roads. Early on the morning of the 4th I was directed 
to take command of a squad and go out on a road which wound 
its way for several miles along the south fork of the Potomac 
river and which led to and through Brock's Gap. My party 
consisted of William Jenkins, John W. Manning, Abel Moore, 
John Penny, Corporal Samuel P. Hallam, myself (at this time 
a sefgeant) in command. Just as daylight was breaking we 
reached a ford on the river, and on the opposite bank discovered 
a mounted sentinel or picket belonging to the enemy's force. 
Corporal Hallam was immediately sent back to camp, to report 
the fact to the Major, and in the hope that we could capture 
this man on the outpost, or some of the reserve, which must be 
nea.r" at hand, we dashed across the river, and paying no heed 
to the shot he fired at us spurred forward in hot pursuit as he 
withdrew. The shooting warned his friends at the reserve post, 
and when we came upon their position they were mounted and 
in full retreat. They greeted us with a volley as they abandoned 
their post^ but we kept up the pursuit until we drove them into 
camp. Here we found their whole force, having been alarmed 
at the firing, falling into line and in much confusion. We 
wheeled about and got back across the rivei", and then feeling 
pretty secure leisurely retired. A force of the enemy soon 
appeared at the ford, but as they did not rush us we fell back 
in good order. Just as we were beginning to feel that we would 
soon be near or in our own camp we met a company of Con- 
federate cavalry coming from that direction. This proved to be 
McNeill's company of rangers under command of Lieut. Jesse 
McNeill. Now, being caught between this force in front and 



tVAR MEMORIES ig 

the one pursuing there was no possibility of escape. They closed 
up on us from both directions, and in the midst of such a 
demonstration as only 9uch conditions could bring about they 
soon had the little squad unhorsed. Two horses shot and 
Jenkins and Moore wounded were the only casualties. This 
incident was one of the strange freaks of the fortunes of war. 
Instead of capturing one or two of the rebels, as we hoped, 
we, ourselves, fell into their hands. We were taken to Rich- 
mond, Va., and put into Libby Prison, where we remained for 
two or three weeks, then placed on Belle Island. In a stockade 
on this bare island we remained during that cold winter of 
1863-64, scantily clothed and without other shelter from the 
chilling winds which swept over the island. Three of this party 
lived to get back to the North — Hallam, who got through with 
his message in the morning, but was captured later the same day ; 
John W. Manning, who was fortunate enough to be included 
with a few hundred that were exchanged in April, 1864, and 
myself, escaped in March, 1864. Hallam had a long and terrible 
experience in different prison pens in the South. He was 
longest at Andersonville, and strange to relate, lived through 
more than a year of privation and suffering at that place. He 
was released by Gen. Sherman's army at the close of the war. 



ADDENDA. 



A most remarkable coincidence connected with this sketch 
happened since it was first published. While I was engaged in 
the Civil Service of the Government, in 1901, at Washington, 
D. C, I was rooming at the house of Mrs. Kiel, No. 12 Sixth 
St., N. E., and thefe met Capt. T. T. Westcott, a Confederate 
soldier, who 'held a position in the National Capital by the favor 
of Senator Daniel, of Virginia. Mr. Westcott lives in Acco- 
mac County, Va. While talking over our experiences in the 
war, it was discovered that he was the officer in command of 
the very train of cars from which I escaped. He well remem- 
bered the incident of the departure of myself and friends on 
the night of March 6. 1864, which he discovered the next morn- 
ing when his train pulled into Raleigh, N. C. He said he con- 
tinued on with his load of human freight to A ndersonville, Ga. 



LIST OF CAPTURED, 



The following is a list of the members of the regiment 
captured during the war : 

Company A. — Sample S. Bane, died in Andersonville, Ga., 
April I, 1804; James Gray, died at Salisbury prison, N. C.; 
C. L. Kinder, exchanged ; W. Laferty, died at Andersonville 
June 9, 1864; Joseph Morton, died at Andersonville March 20, 
1864; J. K. Robinson, exchanged; A. M. Nicely, died at Salis- 
bury, N. C, December 23, 1864; *Jas. Crouch; Wm. H.' White, 
killed in Manassas Gap by Moseby's guerillas. 

Company B. — Hardman Gantz, died in Annapolis, Md., 
soon after exchange ; Raymond Gouse, died at Andersonville 
October 27, 1864; *And. K. Reed; Andrew Smith, died at 
Andersonville October 17, 1864; *J. S. Lindley, *L. K. Burn- 
crots, *W. C. Wheeler. 

Company C. — Milton L. Davis, died at Andersonville July 
5, 1864; Jas. C. Smith, died at Andersonville October i, 1864. 

Company D. — *E. H. Miller ; W. H. Hickman, exchanged. 

Company B. — J. G. Byers, died in Andersonville. 

Company F. — H. H. EHer, died on Belle Island December 
16, 1864; William Vankirk, died at Andersonville September 
21, 1864; James Bradley, died at Richmonl ; David Campbell, 
died at Andei-sonville April 6, 1864 ; Peter Deems, died at 
Andersonville April 26, 1864; And. Elliott, died at Richmond; 
W. P. Haynor, died at Richmond ; Wm. Jenkins, died at Rich- 
mond ; N. B. Marsh, died at Richmond ; M. G. Moore, died at 
Andersonville July 29, 1864; Abel Moore, died at Richmond; 
A. J. Scott, died at Andersinville ; H. C. Slusher, exchanged ; 
John Manning, exchanged; John Fulton, exchanged; John 
Flowers, exchanged; B. F. Hasson, escaped. 

Company G. — David Beatty, died at Andersonville, June 16, 
1864; A. J. Stottlemyer, exchanged; James Amous, died at 
Andersonville May 5, 1865 ; Thos. Bee, died at Andersonville 
June 14, 1864 ; J. Hardin, exchanged ; *George W. Johnson ; 
*G. Marcy; C. Phillips, died at Annapolis, Md. ; O. P. States, 
exchanged; John Stiner, died at Andersonville August 9, 1864. 

Note. — The fate of those marked with a star (*) is 
unknown to me. , 



OCT *9 1908 



^LiBRARY OF CONGRESS 




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